CHICAGO - Two lawmakers from Illinois are among 18 members of Congress who've sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama supporting the removal of marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston and Mike Quigley of Chicago, both Democrats, signed the letter. It asks Obama to direct Attorney General Eric Holder to move marijuana out of the strictest classification.

Drugs that are listed as Schedule I are regarded as having no legitimate medical use by federal authorities. Illinois is among 20 states that have authorized the medical use of marijuana.

The lawmakers' letter says the current Schedule I classification means marijuana businesses can't deduct business expenses from their taxes or take tax credits under the federal tax code.